I use a valve on my 16H and ES2 with no problems at all. Easy to check the oil indicator when started on the 16H but make sure you get the right type of valve. I was talking to a bloke who fitted a breather type valve with a rubber flap and it didn't work. The one I use is from an eBay seller "bikerbsa", his valve screwed straight into my crankcase so was as near as possible to the pump and you can't see it.
Horror,
Those are the type i have fitted to my M33 and the 16H, both screwed direct into the crankcase. been there for around 4 years and never been a problem. I cannot see a reduced flow but have not measured it to see if it has. I will sort the BSA pump out the next time i have it in bits, but i don't think you can do anything with a 16H unless you buy a new pump, so the valve will stay on that one.
I've had the one sold by bikerbsa (Polly Palmer) for 15 years without problems. As Polly is ex president of BSAOC and current active member he's unlikely to sell dodgy BSA stuff.
There is no single best solution for wet sumping. It depends on a number of factors, best illustrated by some examples:
Case 1: You have a large family, a full time job, a number of other hobbies, own a number of motorcycles, spend a limited amount of time in your workshop and only ride your BSA occasionally. Your best bet to avoid wet sumping is to drain the oil each time after your occasional ride.
Case 2: You have a small family, are retired, love tinkering in your workshop, only own a few motorcycles and ride frequently. You have already fixed your anti-wet sumping valve and you advise everyone else that this is the only solution.
The truth is somewhere between these two extremes. I have 6 motorcycles and 2 of them have dry sumps. I have fitted a small ball valve in the pump suction line on each. One can of course forget to open the valve and for this reason, I would not recommend it to everyone. It works for me though.
:smiley:
I think you have some good points there Peter.
As for fitting a manual valve to the oil feed to keep the bike from wet sumping:
Have I ever driven off forgetting to turn on the fuel tap? Yes I have.
Have I ever tried to drive away with a lock in the wheel? Yes I have.
Will I sooner or later forget to turn on the oil before riding off? I most certainly will!
That's just me.
You're a braver man than me, or you have a better memory. Have you ever ridden off and forgotten to turn on the petrol..? If yes then you can just as easily do it with the oil tap. The problems I've heard about with anti wet dumping valves have either been down to plastic or poor quality valves breaking or user error like wrong type of valve fitted and no way the pump will open it. I can open my valve with a light suck, if you can't, it's the wrong valve. Also Velocette fitted them as standard on the oil tank, so further away than I fit them, and I've never heard of a Velo seizing up because of one.
I have tried any and all remedies to cure the wet sumping on my M21. The problem is I have over 30 bikes and can't ride them all. Also where I live it can get hot in the summer (111 degrees a week ago) which makes the wet sumping worse. My Norton Commando will also empty the oil tank in the summer. The only old bike I have which does not do this in my Velocette which has from the factory a check valve in the oil line.
I finally this year fitted a shut off valve to the M21 which has cured the problem. Yes I know I could forget to turn on the oil but am not worried as on all my old bikes they get a full inspection before starting and any time I stop for fuel, food or beer. I always check to see if oil is going in to the motor and returning to the tank before the bike moves.
